In the Netherlands, the accommodation represents the largest portion of your living expenses, and it accounts for the majority of your outgoing costs. Students have a variety of housing alternatives to select from, including individual apartments, communal housing, dorms, university residence halls, and shared apartments. The most preferred kind of housing for overseas students is student housing or apartments.

Here is an overview of the typical rent for several student accommodation alternatives.

The cost of living can vary from different cities in the Netherlands and the prices of houses and apartments are also in constant change due to demand and the location. Below are some of the major cities and the average cost of living in those cities.

Commuting within the city for work or for classes are factors that need to be calculated when looking at the costs incurred per month. There are different discounts that the students get when they are in universities for buses or trains which can make the cost a little cheaper. 

The travel network in Europe is so well connected and easy to use that most people prefer public transport compared to their own cars.There are different methods of transport preferred in the Netherlands and the most common methods are listed below along with the ticket fare.

When residing in the Netherlands, a number of household expenses are involved. Electricity, water, cellphone, and other utility bills should all be paid on time. The majority of the time, the rent already includes all of these expenses, but in the event that it doesn’t, you must take into account the cost of various expenses while living in the Netherlands. The insurance might be a little cheaper if the student is enrolled in the insurance through the university rather than the private insurance companies. 

There are many other things that students can do other than just studying, going to college and working. The social aspect of life is also very important for everyone since it helps build connections and helps the student meet a lot of people and engage in the culture of the country. 

Below are some of the popular entertainment activities or options that the students prefer.

Last but not least, miscellaneous expenses are something that cannot be avoided. The books for colleges and universities other day to day items like toothbrush, paste and body wash. The list also includes shopping and the estimate is when students stay away from designer clothes and items since that will put a hole in the expenses that are more than all the other expenses combined. The list below shows the major miscellaneous expenses for students.

Cost of the universities is something to consider when choosing the place and the location. There are multiple universities in the Netherlands that are ranked among the top 100 globally and the price for MBA in those universities range from €8000 – €20000.

Cooking at home

A great way to save money every month is to prepare all the meals at home since the cost of purchasing the meals outside is much more expensive than at home. This method of buying food outside might sound like an easier method but it hurts both financially and physically.

Using public transportation

Public transportation is a great way to travel across the country and it is easier to use for commuting to classes since the public transportation system is much better regulated and accessible in the Netherlands.

Sharing the room with a roommate

The cost of living in the Netherlands is relatively low compared to other countries but the expense can be further reduced if the student can share the apartment with a friend or share the house with someone else. This reduces the cost of electricity, water and the internet bills at the end of the month.

Student Discounts

The students are offered extensive discounts when traveling in the country for a lot of the public transportation, museums, parks and a few food places. If the discounts are used feasibly then it adds up to quite a large amount at the end.

Part time jobs

The part time jobs act as a supplement income for students that want the extra cash to spend on other things or going out with friends. The students can earn anywhere from 6-10 euros per hour working part time.

1    Amsterdam  

Amsterdam is the capital and most populous city of the Netherlands; with a population of 907,976 within the city proper, 1,558,755 in the urban area and 2,480,394 in the metropolitan area. Found within the Dutch province of North Holland,Amsterdam is colloquially referred to as the “Venice of the North”, due to the large number of canals which form a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  

2     Den Haag    

The Hague is a city and municipality of the Netherlands, situated on the west coast facing the North Sea. It is the administrative and royal capital of the Netherlands and its seat of government, as well as the capital of the province of South Holland. It hosts the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. It has been described as the de facto capital of the Netherlands.

3     Utrecht    

Utrecht is the fourth-largest city and a municipality of the Netherlands, capital and most populous city of the province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, in the very center of mainland Netherlands; it has a population of 361,966 as of 1 December 2021.

4     Leiden    

Leiden is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland, Netherlands. The municipality of Leiden has a population of 119,713,but the city forms one densely connected agglomeration with its suburbs Oegstgeest, Leiderdorp, Voorschoten and Zoeterwoude with 206,647 inhabitants. Leiden is located on the Oude Rijn, at a distance of some 20 km (12 mi) from The Hague to its south and some 40 km (25 mi) from Amsterdam to its north. 

5     Eindhoven

Eindhoven is the fifth-largest city and a municipality of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country. It had a population of 235,923 in 2021, making it the largest city in the province of North Brabant. Eindhoven was originally located at the confluence of the Dommel and Gender.

Jobs are one of the primary reasons people tend to move abroad to have a better work life balance and higher pay. Below are some of the popular jobs in the Netherlands and the median Salary for that specific job per year.

1. Teacher Primary School €44,650
2. Marketing Assistant €43,200
3. Graphic Designer €41,700
4. Head Chef €40,200
5. Train Driver €38,800
6. Lab Analyst €37,400
7. Secretary €34,300
8. Bus Driver €33,600
9. Builder €33,500
10. Plasterer €32,800
11. Electrician €31,800
12. Taxi Driver €31,800
13. Photographer €30,400
14. Printer €30,200
15. Waste Collector €29,000
16. Courier €27,400
17. Receptionist €27,000
18. Cleaner €24,800
19. Hairdresser €24,500
20. Soldier €24,500
21. Packer €22,000

The Netherlands is one of the cheaper alternatives for people who want to go and study abroad or want to work abroad because of the location and the people’s culture. The country is located in a place that has access to all of Europe easily and without any trouble though train or metro which is something people look for when choosing a place. 

Hope you are now ready to move to the Netherlands

Good Luck.

Sources :

• https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Netherlandshttps://livingcost.org/cost/netherlands

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